1. What is a septic tank?
Your septic tank is at the core of your private sewage system. Wastewater exiting your home through one drainage pipe leads directly into an underground septic tank where solids separate from liquid wastewater using a process known as settling and flotation; oily substances float to the top while solid waste sinks to the bottom; after which time any clarified liquid in between these layers (called effluent) exits your septic tank into its drain field for disposal.
Septic tanks are precast concrete boxes buried underground that contain inlet and outlet tees with baffle walls that prevent floating scum layer and solid sludge layers from reaching an absorption field and clogging the outlet pipe or drainfield.
2. What is a septic system?
Septic systems provide wastewater treatment and disposal systems used in homes and buildings not connected to public sewers. It typically comprises a septic tank and drain field.
Wastewater from household sinks, toilets and drains travels into a septic tank where bacteria decompose some of its waste materials; heavy solids settle at the bottom as sludge while oils and grease rise to the top as scum – with liquid wastewater between these layers exiting through a T-shaped outlet.
Wastewater then travels through perforated pipes into a soil drain field (also referred to as an absorption field or leach field), where soil-based processes treat any leftover moisture in the field.
Maintaining the drain field requires proper upkeep. To help ensure optimal performance of the drainage field, don’t park or drive cars on it and don’t plant vegetation near its edge.
3. What is a septic tank pump?
Septic tank pumps are motor-driven submersible pumps located either within your septic tank itself, or a separate chamber outside it, designed to quickly pump waste through. When waste reaches this chamber, a float switch activates, followed by an impeller pumping it up through an outflow pipe into your drain field. Our plumbers suggest having an alarm wired to the float switch connected into an alarm panel just in case your pump stops working; this way if water levels in your tank increase you’ll get an alarm, giving us time to reach out before facing an unpleasant surprise in terms of potential sewage backup issues.
Septic tanks need to be pumped regularly because the bacteria inside are no longer capable of breaking down all of the solid material and sludge that accumulates, leading to wastewater backing up into your toilets, sinks, and showers. One telltale sign that your septic tank requires pumping is slow draining fixtures or an unpleasant septic smell – two sure indicators.
4. What is a septic system?
Septic systems are systems composed of components designed to treat residential wastewater in homes without access to public sewer lines, often called an on-site sewage system, individual sewage system or onsite sewage treatment plant.
Septic systems rely on an underground container known as the septic tank to collect all wastewater generated in your house, including toilet waste. These tanks typically consist of concrete or fiberglass construction and must be watertight. Each has an inlet pipe for receiving raw sewage as well as an outlet pipe that distributes partially treated wastewater back into the environment.
Septic tanks contain floating scum layers on top and dense sludge layers on bottom that separate as wastewater moves through it, so if your drains or toilets become clogged or smell, this may indicate an issue with your septic tank. Regular pumping maintenance such as every three to five years may help. Also avoid flushing paint/stain/motor oil/pesticides/gasoline down drains that contain toxic substances (paint stains /stains motor oil pesticides gasoline other).
